The appointment of Puneet Talwar as US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco is expected to result in detailed discussions on various security and political issues, as well as sustainable development, enhancing opportunities for joint security training between US and Moroccan militaries. Cooperation between the two militaries is expected to take place through a variety of frameworks, to modernize the Moroccan army, increase military training opportunities, and improve military interoperability. Talwar is also expected to play a role in addressing issues such as Algerian-Moroccan relations, increasing bilateral trade, arms deals, and Morocco’s position on the Russian-Ukrainian war.
On September 9, the US Senate confirmed the appointment of Puneet Talwar as US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco. Last March, US President Joe Biden nominated the US diplomat of Indian descent to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Morocco. Following the ratification process, the US State Department confirmed that the partnership between the US and Morocco was central to regional peace and security. Talwar has extensive experience, serving as former US President Barack Obama’s Senior Advisor on Middle East Affairs, Senior State Department Advisor, Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs, and Senior Officer of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The appointment of Talwar is likely to deepen US-Moroccan relations on many fronts, including:
Deepening bilateral strategic relations: The US has regarded Morocco as a strategic non-NATO ally since 2004. The two states share common security concerns, particularly in Libya and the Mediterranean, as well as illicit trade, among others. The appointment of the new US Ambassador to Morocco is expected to result in further detailed discussions on various security and political issues along with sustainable development matters on the one hand, and enhanced opportunities for joint security training between US and Moroccan armies, on the other.
Intensifying counter-terrorism efforts: Morocco has undertaken multifaceted efforts to combat terrorism, leading Moroccan analysts to consider the country a strong and active partner in counter-terrorism efforts, especially given its close cooperation with the US within the context of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum and the Global Coalition Against ISIS. The appointment of Talwar is expected to result in further exploration of means to enhance US – Moroccan cooperation on this issue, as well as on other security threats.
Increased US military support for Morocco: Talwar’s efforts are expected to extend to the modernization of the Moroccan army, enhancing military training opportunities to improve military interoperability between the US and Morocco in cooperation with security actors such as the International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement, the Moroccan National Police, the Prison Department and Judiciary, in a way that enhances border security and Morocco’s ability to combat the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
Strengthening Moroccan civil society: The new US Ambassador has many avenues through which to enhance bilateral cooperation, including USAID, whose roles go beyond economic activities to include: supporting civil society, promoting primary education and vocational training, supporting initiatives that address the needs of marginalized youth, expanding citizens’ participation in governance and women’s empowerment, supporting youth leadership and volunteerism, and increasing civic participation and entrepreneurship.
Issues of interest
A number of domestic and international issues will be at the forefront of US-Moroccan relations following the appointment of Talwar, the most prominent of which are:
The Western Sahara: In December 2020, the US announced its full recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara and reiterated its desire to open a consulate in the city of Dakhla. These intentions were previously expressed by former US Ambassador to Morocco David Fischer, who described this as a natural evolution of the established positions of American administrations. However, the new ambassador is facing rising tensions in Algerian Moroccan relations leading to a diplomatic war of attrition, with its effects going beyond the region as Morocco works to induce more countries to support its positions. This raises fears that the situation will explode as avenues for a possible resolution remain blocked.
Economic relations: Morocco is the only African country with a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, signed by the two states in 2004, although it entered into force in 2006. The two states have repeatedly reiterated the strategic importance of this agreement, which is a comprehensive agreement that supports important economic and political reforms and provides better trading opportunities for American exports to Morocco by reducing and removing trade barriers. In this context, the two countries are expected to discuss ways of increasing the volume of mutual trade to allow hundreds of American companies to operate within Morocco.
US-Morocco Arms Deals: The new US Ambassador is expected to oversee a number of arms deals concluded between the two countries, the latest of which concerns the sale of tactical wireless systems worth up to USD141.1 million. The Moroccan government has also requested six tactical radio systems used in the military field, which Morocco considers would reflect its strategic importance, and would improve its ability to meet current and future challenges by providing real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to deter regional threats and strengthen self-defense mechanisms.
Russian-Ukrainian war: Some Moroccan commentators have argued that the Russian-Ukrainian war represents a proxy war between two international camps, one led by Moscow, the other led by Washington. The new US Ambassador is expected to focus his diplomatic efforts on ensuring Morocco’s support for the US and mitigating the impact of the war on Morocco’s economy, particularly the slowdown in productivity and consumption. This issue is of great importance given Morocco’s refusal to condemn Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, and its absence from the various UN General Assembly voting sessions that condemned Moscow.
In conclusion, the new US Ambassador to Morocco is likely to focus his efforts on strengthening relations between the two countries and increasing cooperation in all areas. It can be argued that the handover between ambassadors will not bring about radical change in Morocco’s relations with the US, as the latter’s foreign policy regarding Morocco is built on a number of stable determinants, with historical, strategic and geographical dimensions, in view of the importance of Morocco’s location, and its role in the fight against terrorism.